President Museveni, “Thank you, but… go and rest”

On Monday morning, State House announced that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni will begin a tour of Lango on January 28. 

The President will visit Lango to evaluate Parish Development Model (PDM) performance and preach wealth creation.

Last week, the President visited Busoga, where he met with various farmer groups and leaders. According to the State House statement, one of the things he will do in Lango is to launch the presidential zonal industrial hub.

He will also meet with various leaders in Lango.

Isaah Otto Amiza, a social and political activist, says his visit is not ordinary.

In an exclusive interview with tndNews on Monday, Otto, former Oyam South MP, said Museveni should use his visit to account to Lango for his nearly 40-year rule.

“We want to hear him give us accountability. He’s not coming back anymore; his next coming is going to be on campaigns. So, now that he has arrived, we welcome him, but we ask that he be fully accountable to the people of Lango.

Otto, on the other hand, believes that now is the time “for us” to thank him (Museveni) for at least three things he has done as a result of our campaigns, which have been spearheaded by Lango activists.

“As an activist, I want to thank him for three things he listened to and took action on after hearing our loud shouts. He did not do it because he wanted to, but we cried. One of them is Lira-Kamdini Road, the other is Rwekunye-Apac-Lira Road, and the third is Lira University.

Otto stated that some of them were arrested in order for the NRM government to accomplish the aforementioned tasks. “The Akii Bua has yet to be completed. These four things, I believe, he will leave for us here in Lango after 40 years. As activists, we want to thank him for responding to our loud shouts.

“Now that I have thanked him, my final appeal to him is that, after nearly 40 years in power, he should make history and leave power as a gift to the people of Uganda. Museveni’s only way to show his appreciation to the Ugandan people is to retire peacefully in 2026.

“In other words, I do not consider him a candidate for the presidency. I am already saying goodbye to him: Thanks for coming to Lango; here are the four things you have done that I have seen, and your 40-year rule is enough. Go and rest.”

If Museveni complies with his request, Otto said, Ugandans and Lango should both forgive him for the wrongdoings committed during his political rule.

“But, if he chooses to stay in power, Uganda should go after Museveni for all of his wrongdoings over the years. He has to retire for the good of our people so that we say ‘Ok, let’s pardon him or he maintains himself and we pursue him in the courts of justice’.

Museveni’s tour of Lango is “not ordinary; he is coming to give full accountability,” he stated.

Otto believes that “PDM is nonsense; it is a waste of our time.”

“After four years, you are coming to check on PDM. Across Lango, no one is willing to show anything courtesy of PDM because the funds are used for school fees and medical bills. So, nothing in Lango bears the name of PDM,” Otto claims.

“In fact, if you see people in a parish, how many are there? You are talking about 100 people; what about the rest? Who will take care of them? Where will they get the same amount of money to improve their households?

“So, PDM is not an issue for me; rather, PDM is a continuation of programs such as Etanikwa, Bonabagagawale, and Emyooga. This is the same thing happening. Let him come and talk to us about accountability,” Otto stated.

President Museveni, 80, has already received overwhelming support for the presidency ahead of the general elections in 2026.

His NRM party, the PLU, and a group of leaders in Eastern Uganda, for example, have all endorsed him for a record term.